Nearly 200 Coles Shareholders Urge Retailer to Act on Plastics

Nearly 200 Coles shareholders urged the company to break its silence over plastic use in September 2026. The demand follows the supermarket chain’s decision to stop selling Antarctic krill oil supplements.

Rival Woolworths followed suit days later, ending the sale of krill-derived products across its supermarkets.

Supermarket Giants Drop Antarctic Krill Lines

Coles confirmed the product exit after conservation group Sea Shepherd spotted several unavailable krill oil items on the grocer’s website. Woolworths then ended all krill supplement sales in its own stores.

The simultaneous delisting strips high-margin marine dietary lines from both chains. Environmental groups have long scrutinised Antarctic krill harvesting for disrupting Southern Ocean food webs.

Shareholders Target Packaging Policies

Investors are now pressing Coles management to address packaging waste and match Woolworths’ commitments. The shareholder group wants firm disclosures on plastic volume metrics alongside specific reduction milestones.

Coordinated pressure on both supermarket operators accelerates packaging redesign deadlines for regional brand and private-label suppliers. Those unable to cut secondary plastics or adopt circular materials face delisting risks.

Sourcing Audits Across Australian Aisles

The sudden krill exit shows how quickly activist campaigns alter Australian retail range planning. RetailNews Asia has tracked similar rapid category exits across fresh produce, seafood and packaging formats in recent trading periods.

Coles faces its next test when investors look for binding packaging targets and plastic reduction timelines at the upcoming formal shareholder meeting.